SONS is a EUROCORES Programme which aims to develop cross-disciplinary research at the interface between Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanoscience, Physics and Electrical Engineering.

This research programme concerns the utilization of supramolecular interactions for the synthesis and positioning of functional assemblies, macromolecules, dendrimers, liquid crystals, tailor-made polymers and inorganic nanoparticles.
Self-organization is a process in which a supramolecular organization is established in a complex system of interlocking components. The mechanism that produces the organization is determined by the competing interactions between the components. The hierarchy of interactions determines the hierarchy of levels in the final nanostructured material.
Thus self-organizing compounds allow a defined and well-controlled construction of ordered architectures on a nanometer-scale.

From Supramolecules to Suprafunctions in Advanced Materials Special Issue (27 March 2009)

A special issue of Advanced Materials “From Supramolecules to Suprafunctions”  is dedicated to the research results presented at the EMRS symposium “Functional Supramolecular Architectures for Organic Electronics and Nanotechnology” organized by SONS II in May 2008 in Strasbourg.

The issue features an editorial (by Paolo Samorì, Franco Caccialli, Giovanni Marletta, Roberto Faria and Mario Ruben),  an essay on the ESF involvement in Materials Science research (Antonella di Trapani) and a series of articles by SUPRAMATES and FunSMARTs II researchers.  

Supramolecular control of the magnetic anisotropy in two-dimensional high-spin Fe arrays at a metal interface (10 February 2009)

SANMAG scientists report in the latest issue of Nature Materials results on the spontaneous self-assembly of iron atoms and terephthalyc acid molecules on a copper metal substrate. Read more...

Controlling the Self-Assembly from Nano- to Macroscale (10 February 2009) 

Researchers from SUPRAMATES have devised a new approach, i.e. temperature-enhanced solvent vapor annealing (TESVA), to achieve molecular long-range re-organization at surfaces, leading to the formation of highly ordered self-assembled arrangements.
The results have been published in Small, 2009, 1, 112-119 and appeared on the cover page of the issue.

JACS Select highlights SONS II research results

Articles from the SUPRAMATES and SOHYD CRPs have been highlighted by the Journal of the Amercan Chemical Society Select issue on the "Molecular Design of Thin Film Optoelectronic Matrials for Solar Cells".  Read more on the research in this field in the JACS Select Editorial.

Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy evidence of nanoscale photovoltaic activity in multichromophoric arrays (8 December 2008) 

Scientists from SUPRAMATES have provided the first insight into the relationship between nanoscale architecture and function in photovoltaic multichromophoric arrays
The results appeared in J. Am. Chem Soc. 2008, 130, 14605-14 614

Long-Living Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells (10 November 2008) 

Scientists from SOHYD project have produced stable light-emitting electrochemical cells with lifetimes of 3000 hours and an average luminance of 200 cd m^-2.

These results have been highlighted on the inside cover page of Advanced Materials 2008, 20, 3910-3913.

Ordering and Stabilization by Cooperative Assembly (7 November 2008) 

Researchers form FunSMARTs II have found find a way of producing highly ordered and thermally stable supramolecular structures.

The results appeared in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 8835-8838.

Inside cover artwork by Alexander Langner (MPI, Stuttgart)

Micro- and Nanopatterning of Spin-Transition Compounds into Logical Structures (27 October 2008)

Researchers from Fun-SMART CRP have been able to pattern micro and nano-structured Spin-Transition Compounds which can be used as magnetic storage media.These results have been published in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 47,(45),  8596 - 8600 and highlighted by AzoNano.

Magnetism of Nanowires Driven by Novel Even-Odd Effects (1 October 2008)

Lounis, Dederichs and Bluegel, from the Research Centre in Juelich, working on the SANMAG Project,  have discovered a kind of domino effect in rows of individual manganese atoms on a nickel surface.  These results made the cover article in Phys. Rev. Lett, 101, 107204, 2008.

Honeycomb liquid crystals discovered. (12 June 2008)

The groups of Ungar and Tschierske of the SCALES Project have discovered that it is possible to produce LC with honeycomb-like polygonal cylinder arrays that have single-molecule walls. Their research has just been published in Chem. Comm. 2008, as Advance Article on the Web.  

Supramolecular approach to the development of SAMs. (9 June 2008).

The groups of Samori and Lehn have demonstrated how to achieve subnanometer control over the molecular patterning on Au(111). The article was published by Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2008, 47, 2484 and has been now highlighted by Neil R. Champness in 'News and Views' of Nature Nanotechnology, June 2008. The research was conducted in the frame of the SUPRAMATES Project (9 June 2008).

Chris Finlayson's profile featured in the RSC News May 2008. (3 June 2008)

Chris, currently working in the SUPRAMATES SONS Project, talks about his involvement in this multi-disciplinary project.

Self-assembly leads to microfibers formation.

Researchers in SUPRAMATES discover formation of microfibers by SVA (Solvent Vapour Annealing).

SUPRAMATES research results get covered!

The paper from Palermo et al. (Adv. Funct. Mater.  2007, 17, 3791–3798) from the SUPRAMATES Project has been highlighted in Noteworthy Chemistry (ACS) and in Materials Views (Wiley).

The Million Euro Nanoreactor. For the second year running a SONS researcher received the prestigious EURYI award. Jeroen Cornelissen tell us more what is going to do with this money.

Web Search Leads to Award-winning Collaborative Work. John Goodby, Project leader of LC-NANOP Project,  from the University of York, has been awarded the  RSC Interdisciplinary Award for his longstanding contribution to the study of Liquid Crystals. 

Hybrid approach to solar power brings rewards. Saif Haque, from Imperial College London, was awarded the Edward Harrison Memorial Prize for his research on organic solar cells.

SONS 2 Researchers meet at the EMRS Spring Meeting 2008: Symposium Q. The Symposium will take place in Strasbourg, 26-30 May. Click on the picture (left) to download the leaflet.

Read the Symposium Q highlights in the MRS Meeting Scene website. (26 May 2008)

A great issue for SONS 2 researchers. This issue of Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed.(2007, 46, issue 24)  features articles from Fun-SMARTs II, SUPRAMATES and  a book review from SOHYD. Front cover from Dr. De Vita, Fun-SMARTs II.